CH 34

The murmurs of the knights grew louder and reached Rosalie and Aaron’s ears. Aaron flinched and glanced at Rosalie as she slowly scanned the knights, and they turned their heads away to avoid eye contact.

“Do you think it’s worth the trouble? Should we do some morning exercise with those crates?”

The knights, contemplating Rosalie’s seemingly kind tone, shook their heads and hurriedly focused on moving the crates.

“Very well, then. Please finish moving them.”

“Yes, understood.”

Rosalie left the backyard and the knights breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had been spared somehow.

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Leaving the backyard, Rosalie headed for the third training ground, where she had been earlier. However, when she arrived, it was empty.

‘Did he leave already?’

As Rosalie looked around, she heard Derivis’s voice next to her.

“Looking for me?”

“Yes. Found you.”

For a moment, Derivis’s body froze. Rosalie walked over to him, cocking her head.

“You’ve been acting strange since earlier. Are you feeling sick?”

Thinking that he might have caught a cold, Rosalie placed her palm on Derivis’s neck to check his temperature. However, the warmth she felt on her palm seemed normal.

“You don’t have a fever.”

“No, I’m fine. Apart from that, why were you looking for me?”

Rosalie tilted her head, confused by his flustered appearance.

“You don’t have to force yourself to help with the training if you’re not feeling well.”

“No, I’m really okay. Let’s go.”

Derivis quickened his pace and Rosalie followed with a puzzled expression. His steps were faster than usual today.

When Rosalie came up to her room after her usual routine, she left the terrace window open because it was almost time for Nathan to arrive. About ten minutes later, Nathan entered the room, his cheerful voice accompanied by a cold breeze.

“Rosalie~.”

“Close the terrace door and come in.”

Nathan obediently closed the terrace door and sat down on the sofa across from Rosalie. His silver ring glowed faintly, and his hair faded from blonde back to its original crimson color.

“Rosalie, Bella’s siphoning off your fortune is getting worse and worse, hasn’t it?”

“Leave her. After all, she’s the one tightening her own noose.”

Nathan chuckled at Rosalie’s nonchalant response and walked over to her, sitting down on the floor. Then, he rested his head on her lap, and Rosalie let out a small sigh and slowly stroked his hair. Lately, he wouldn’t stop whining unless she stroked his head, leaving her no choice but to pet him.

“Ah… I think I’m going to live. Bella smells so much like perfume…”

Nathan complained. Not only was the scent of her perfume overpowering, but more than anything, the touch of her hands made him want to cut off both of her wrists.

‘And the hardest thing to endure…’

Nathan glanced at Rosalie.

“Why?”

“What will happen to Bella after the territorial war?”

“I’ll kick her out of the dukedom. She was originally the daughter of a poor viscount, so the best punishment for her was to return to her house, being as vain as she is.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Seeing his eyes flash, Rosalie stopped stroking his head.

“Don’t even think about killing her.”

“Aren’t you quick-witted? But there’s nothing wrong with killing her, right?”

“She’s not worth killing.”

However, there was already determination in Nathan’s expression. With a twinkle in his eye, Nathan rubbed his head against Rosalie’s lap as if to her not to stop stroking his head.

“I felt it from the first time I saw you, but you’re really like a cat.”

Nathan raised his head with a wide smile.

“Then, will you raise me?”

“No.”

Disappointed by the stubborn answer that immediately followed, Nathan leaned his head back on Rosalie’s lap. She continued speaking as she started stroking his head again.

“There’s not much time left until the war. Bella will probably attempt to escape before that.”

“Should I help in the war?”

“This is the Duchy’s war. Your job ends there.”

Since there was no need to involve someone who was not a member of the duchy in a war that involved life and death, her answer was firm.

“How cold. I’m going to be so sad if Rosalie dies.”

“I won’t die, so don’t worry.”

This time, too, the answer that came was firm. However, there was a certainty in her voice that was full of confidence, and Nathan’s mouth curved up. 

‘I should go see Derivis.’

As Nathan slowly opened his eyes, his golden eyes flickered.

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The next day, after the daily training of the firing squad, Derivis searched for Rosalie. During training, she used to secretly wander around the mountain and observe the knights, but she was nowhere to be seen today.

When he grabbed Dolan as he was passing by and asked, Dolan said that Rosalie was in a secret reading room accessible only to the head of the Duchy. He also added that she had been spending a lot of time there lately.

“It should be this way.”

Having already explored the duchy’s mansion several times without anyone noticing, Derivis had no trouble finding the secret reading room. At first glance, it sounded like it might be hidden in the basement, but instead, it was right in the center of the mansion. Derivis knocked softly on the door to the secret reading room.

“Duchess.”

The secret reading room was a specially constructed space that could only be accessed with the permission of Rosalie, the head of the ducal household.

“You may come in.”

At the small sound of permission, Derivis opened the heavy door and stepped inside to find Rosalie, who was scattering papers across the table with a focused expression on her face.

“I heard you’ve been living here lately.”

“Yes. There is a lot of information on the terrain and special matters regarding the territory in this area.”

“Is it preparation for the territory war?”

Rosalie nodded, not taking her eyes off the paper she was looking at. Not wanting to disturb her as she immersed herself in the material before her, Derivis modestly looked around.

However, his gaze kept drifting towards her, who seemed to shine in the bright sunlight streaming in through the large window.

“Your Highness.”

“Why?”

Rosalie finally raised her head and locked eyes with Derivis. Her deep khaki eyes seemed to sparkle in the bright sunlight.

“I’m planning to conclude the training.”

“Hmm, does that mean I’m no longer needed?”

“The territorial war is about to break out. We also need a different form of training as a final preparation.”

Derivis remained silent. Due to his mask, Rosalie couldn’t tell what expression he was making. However, one thing was certain: a heavier tension than usual enveloped them.

As the silence lengthened, Derivis spoke, his voice as low as the heavy silence.

“Duchess. If you use me, you can easily end this territorial war. It’s the easy way.”

Rosalie was already grateful for the help she had received from him. However, she firmly believed that the upcoming war was the duchy’s business, and she no longer needed any further assistance from him.

“The fact that you have already helped me with training has been very helpful. The rest is for our duchy to navigate.”

“The Duchess’ beliefs  are very strong.”

Derivis muttered. She was like an impregnable fortress. Whenever he felt that they were getting closer, he always becomes overwhelmed by the sense of distance.

“If there is anything you want from the duchy…”

“No, I didn’t do it for a reward.”

Rosalie fell silent at Derivis’s firm words. He seemed uncomfortable.

“So, what I will do from now on is not for the sake of a reward. Keep that in mind.”

Derivis muttered words that she couldn’t understand before turning around and leaving. Rosalie reached out to grab him, then withdrew her hand. Even if she had caught him, her words wouldn’t have changed.

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With that, Derivis walked away, trying to ignore the bitter taste in his mouth. Walking across the duchy, he stopped abruptly and turned his head toward a statue in the garden.

“Come out, Nathan.”

Nathan appeared with a sly smile from behind the statue that Derivis was looking at.

“I didn’t know that Devi could be so sociable.”

“Looks like you were listening.”

Nathan shrugged. The muffled conversation outside the door of the secret reading room was enough for his ears to hear clearly. His golden eyes flashed, and he spoke with a mischievous tone.

“I don’t think Devi would let Rosalie endanger herself. Am I mistaken?”

“I think you came to see me because you don’t want that, either.”

“Rosalie is so firm in distinguishing between work and personal matters that it’s almost frightening. I need a justification, and Devi seems to need me.”

“…Lately, a persistent little rat has been bothering me, and I don’t even know who sent it.”

Although he didn’t feel like asking Nathan for help this time, it was true that he needed someone to protect Rosalie while he was absent, and Nathan’s skills were useful. 

“Is there anyone besides the Empress who would send a rat to Devi?”

“And I have something to prepare for Rosalie.”

Their gazes became intense. However, a smile suddenly appeared on Derivis’s lips.

“Should I ask you for a favor for the first time in a while?”

“Sure. It sounds like it would be a very interesting request.”

In that tense atmosphere, a long and extensive conversation unfolded between them.

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With a slightly complicated expression, Rosalie entered her office and sat down, unfolding the map she had obtained from the secret reading room.

She had planned to start the military operation review, but she couldn’t concentrate at all. After sending Derivis away, he had stopped going to the palace every day. She may not have known where he had gone, but she knew he was absent. That was exactly how she felt right now.

‘And the atmosphere doesn’t feel good for some reason.’

Amidst her complicated thoughts, what troubled Rosalie the most was the heavy weight that had pressed down on her and the atmosphere that Derivis had carried with him. She couldn’t forget the last image she had seen of his back as he left. Yet, her  thoughts remained unchanged.

“But this is the war of the duchy. We received unexpected help and he has already done enough to assist us.”

Suddenly, the memory of Nathan’s disappointed face came to mind.

‘Why has everyone become so interested in this all of a sudden…?’